20种杀虫剂对不同龄期不同地理种群草地贪夜蛾的室内毒力测定

为有效防控新入侵的迁飞性害虫草地贪夜蛾, 指导科学用药, 本研究采用饲料表面涂药法测定了13类20种杀虫剂对云南省玉溪市红塔区(红塔种群)、广东省广州市花都区(花都种群)、广西壮族自治区钦州市钦南区(钦南种群)、云南省玉溪市华宁县(华宁种群)、海南省海口市秀英区(秀英种群)5个种群草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的毒力; 进而, 以红塔种群为相对敏感种群, 以华宁种群为抗性种群, 测定甲维盐、溴虫氟苯双酰胺、虱螨脲、氯虫苯甲酰胺、杀铃脲、虫螨腈、高效氯氟氰菊酯、茚虫威和氟苯虫酰胺9种杀虫剂对2个种群草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫的毒力。结果表明, 20种杀虫剂对5个种群草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的毒力大小顺序依次为:甲维盐、溴虫氟苯双酰胺＞虱螨脲、杀铃脲、氟铃脲、氯虫苯甲酰胺＞高效氯氟氰菊酯、虫螨腈、多杀霉素＞溴氰虫酰胺、茚虫威、唑虫酰胺＞氟苯虫酰胺、联苯菊酯、甲氧虫酰肼＞毒死蜱、乙酰甲胺磷＞噻虫嗪＞啶虫脒、甲萘威; 9种杀虫剂对2个种群草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫的毒力大小顺序依次为:甲维盐、溴虫氟苯双酰胺＞氯虫苯甲酰胺＞虱螨脲＞杀铃脲＞虫螨腈＞高效氯氟氰菊酯、茚虫威＞氟苯虫酰胺, 研究结果表明, 甲维盐、溴虫氟苯双酰胺、虱螨脲、氯虫苯甲酰胺4种杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾3龄和5龄幼虫具有很高的活性, 是防治草地贪夜蛾的理想药剂, 该研究为合理选择有效杀虫剂进行田间防治提供了科学依据。     

20种杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾的杀卵活性

在前期测定14种杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾杀卵活性的基础上,本文采用浸渍法又测定了20种不同类型杀虫剂的杀卵活性,以期为草地贪夜蛾卵期防治药剂的选择提供更全面的参考。结果表明,所测的20种杀虫剂均具有一定的杀卵活性。在100 mg/L浓度下,溴氰菊酯、高效氯氰菊酯和乙基多杀菌素表现出出色的杀卵活性,能够完全抑制卵的孵化,杀虫双的杀卵活性最差,低于10%。而噻虫胺、氯虫苯甲酰胺、高效氯氟氰菊酯、多杀霉素、联苯菊酯、噻虫啉、氧乐果、噻虫嗪、甲氰菊酯、烯啶虫胺和啶虫脒的杀卵活性相对较好,其校正死亡率在70.95%～98.52%之间,毒死蜱、吡虫啉、辛硫磷、虫螨腈和杀虫单的杀卵活性相对较差,在42.26%～61.51%之间。在10 mg/L浓度下,噻虫胺、乙基多杀菌素和噻虫啉的杀卵活性均在70%以上,而杀虫双、毒死蜱和烯啶虫胺的杀卵活性低于15%。特别是在100 mg/L和10 mg/L浓度下,新烟碱类杀虫剂噻虫胺和噻虫啉对草地贪夜蛾表现出较高的杀卵活性,分别为98.52%、76.91%和89.37%、72.44%。上述药剂在田间对草地贪夜蛾的杀卵效果还有待进一步验证。     

15种杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾卵的毒力测定

采用浸卵法测定了15种杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾卵的毒力,并比较了不同杀虫剂的毒力水平。结果表明:100 mg/L处理后48 h,甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐(甲维盐)和灭多威对草地贪夜蛾卵孵化抑制率最高,达到100%,其LC 50分别为12.67 mg/L和16.95 mg/L;而200 mg/L的氯虫苯甲酰胺、多杀霉素、阿维菌素、高效氯氰菊酯、虱螨脲、辛硫磷和杀螟丹分别处理后72 h对草地贪夜蛾卵的孵化抑制率次之,在69.6%~87.65%之间,其LC 50分别为44.1、50.9、78.37、79.0、98.15、126.8 mg/L和137.7 mg/L。依据毒力测定的结果和高效低毒类杀虫剂优先选用的原则,推荐选择甲维盐、氯虫苯甲酰胺、多杀霉素、阿维菌素和高效氯氰菊酯作为防治草地贪夜蛾卵的主要药剂。     

8种杀虫剂对云南不同区域草地贪夜蛾种群的室内毒力测定

为有效防控新入侵迁飞性害虫草地贪夜蛾,指导科学用药,本研究按照农业农村部推荐用药,在室内采用浸叶法测定了8种杀虫剂对滇西南、滇南、滇中、滇东北4个区域5个草地贪夜蛾种群3龄幼虫的毒力。测定结果表明,8种杀虫剂对上述草地贪夜蛾种群的毒力大小顺序依次为:5%甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐WG(0.05～0.09 mg/L)≥25%乙基多杀菌素WG(0.16～0.26 mg/L)5%虱螨脲SC(0.84～7.07 mg/L)20%氯虫苯甲酰胺SC(3.31～10.50 mg/L)10%虫螨腈SC(4.82～11.47 mg/L)30%茚虫威SC(23.79～40.41 mg/L)2.5%高效氯氟氰菊酯EC(102.85～147.60 mg/L)32 000 IU/mg Bt WP(141.09～352.61 mg/L),其中,甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐、乙基多杀菌素、茚虫威和Bt对4个区域种群的LD_(50)无显著性差异,虱螨脲、氯虫苯甲酰胺、虫螨腈和高效氯氟氰菊酯对4个区域种群的LD_(50)存在区域性差异,其中区域间差异显著的是5%虱螨脲SC,最大相对毒力指数为8.42倍。甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐、乙基多杀菌素、虱螨脲、氯虫苯甲酰胺和虫螨腈对草地贪夜蛾的LD_(90)均低于各药剂的田间推荐剂量,是防治草地贪夜蛾的最佳杀虫剂;茚虫威对草地贪夜蛾的LD_(90)超过了推荐剂量,选用时注意防效,高效氯氟氰菊酯和Bt不推荐作为防治药剂。研究结果为云南地区草地贪夜蛾的有效防治提供了参考。     

常用化学杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾防效的室内测定

化学农药是防治暴发性和突发性农业害虫的有效手段。针对草地贪夜蛾入侵我国后尚无登记农药可用的情况,我们在室内采用浸叶法和浸卵法测定了21种常用商品化学杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的防治效果。结果表明,20%甲氰菊酯EC、15%唑虫酰胺SC、25 g/L溴氰菊酯EC、25 g/L高效氯氟氰菊酯EC和20%呋虫胺SC对草地贪夜蛾卵具有较高的毒杀活性,校正孵化抑制率可达80%以上。1%甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐EC、5%甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐ME、75%乙酰甲胺磷SP、6%乙基多杀菌素SC和20%甲氰菊酯EC对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫具有较强的毒杀作用,校正死亡率超过90%。本研究评价了不同类型化学杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾卵和幼虫的毒杀效率,以期为生产上制定草地贪夜蛾化学防治用药方案提供技术指导。     

10%溴虫氟苯双酰胺SC对草地贪夜蛾的控制效果

为探索新型杀虫剂溴虫氟苯双酰胺对草地贪夜蛾的防治效果,采用喷雾法和浸叶法在室内研究了10%溴虫氟苯双酰胺悬浮剂(SC)对草地贪夜蛾的杀虫性,并用喷雾法进行了田间控制效果研究。室内试验结果表明,10%溴虫氟苯双酰胺SC喷雾处理对草地贪夜蛾卵的孵化率无明显影响,但能显著提高初孵幼虫的死亡率(P<0.05),各处理校正死亡率均高于78.26%。同时,10%溴虫氟苯双酰胺SC对3龄和5龄幼虫均有较强的活性,处理72 h后的校正死亡率均高于90%,并且随着浓度的增加,死亡率升高。田间药效试验表明,不同浓度的10%溴虫氟苯双酰胺SC处理后1 d和7 d防效均可达96.33%以上,显著高于对照药剂5.7%甲维盐微乳剂(ME)和200 g/L氯虫苯甲酰胺SC;药后14 d各处理防效为41.71%～66.32%,其中10 mL/667m~2处理与对照药剂5.7%甲维盐ME防效相当。研究表明,10%溴虫氟苯双酰胺SC可以有效控制草地贪夜蛾,且速效性和持效性较好,建议每667 m~2使用制剂10～15 mL,防治适期为草地贪夜蛾卵孵化盛期及低龄幼虫期。     

国外草地贪夜蛾化学防治技术的研究与应用

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith)是一种适应性和迁徙能力很强的农业害虫,并具有暴发为害的特点。几十年来,化学防治一直是防治草地贪夜蛾的重要技术措施。20世纪80年代以前,美洲国家防治草地贪夜蛾以有机磷类和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂为主;随后拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂得到了广泛使用;20世纪90年代中后期,美洲特别是美国推广种植转基因Bt玉米后,防治草地贪夜蛾杀虫剂的用量显著减少;近年来,甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐、乙基多杀菌素、除虫脲、虱螨脲、茚虫威、氯虫苯甲酰胺、氟苯虫酰胺、溴氰虫酰胺等一系列新型杀虫剂品种在防治草地贪夜蛾中发挥了突出的作用。伴随着不同种类杀虫剂的使用,草地贪夜蛾对杀虫剂抗性也相应地呈现出明显的变化,20世纪80年代后,美洲的草地贪夜蛾先后对有机磷类和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂产生了抗药性,截至2017年,美洲地区的草地贪夜蛾至少对包括氨基甲酸酯类、有机磷类、拟除虫菊酯类及Bt杀虫蛋白等不同类型共29种杀虫剂产生了抗药性;2016年,采自北美洲波多黎各的草地贪夜蛾田间种群对双酰胺类杀虫剂氟苯虫酰胺和氯虫苯甲酰胺抗性倍数最高分别达500倍和160倍。草地贪夜蛾的抗药性机制主要是解毒代谢增强和靶标基因突变。种子处理可以预防作物苗期草地贪夜蛾的为害,并且有利于天敌保护。雾滴粒径不仅影响杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾的防治效果,还影响草地贪夜蛾对杀虫剂抗药性的发展,因此,防治田间草地贪夜蛾适宜采用细雾喷雾方式。使用得当,化学杀虫剂可以与天敌和生物杀虫剂协同增效防治草地贪夜蛾。航空施药要和地面施药联合使用才能对玉米田严重发生的草地贪夜蛾达到好的防治效果。     

麦田草地贪夜蛾农药防治技术研究

草地贪夜蛾可为害苗期至灌浆期的小麦, 但国内目前尚未进行麦田农药防治的研究工作。我们利用农业农村部推荐的草地贪夜蛾防控药剂在云南完成了对拔节期麦田草地贪夜蛾的防治试验, 结果表明, 不同类型农药7 d后的防治效果有显著差别。25%乙基多杀菌素WG、200 g/L氯虫苯甲酰胺SC、5%多杀霉素SC、5%甲维盐ME、10%虫螨腈SC、50 g/L虱螨脲EC、150 g/L茚虫威及10%高效氯氟氰菊酯EC防效为70.4%~97.2%, 拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂10%高效氯氰菊酯EC和有机磷杀虫剂40%氧乐果EC的防效分别为49.8%和46.8%。生物农药32 000 IU/mg苏云金杆菌WP防效为65.1%, 100亿孢子/mL短稳杆菌SC、300亿孢子/g球孢白僵菌WP和10亿PIB/L斜纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒SC的防效为35.3%~41.9%。因此, 麦田草地贪夜蛾种群高密度下建议使用乙基多杀菌素、氯虫苯甲酰胺等化学农药防治, 低密度下可选择苏云金杆菌、短稳杆菌等生物农药, 研究结果为麦类作物草地贪夜蛾的应急防控提供了依据。     

8种草地贪夜蛾化学防控药剂对夜蛾黑卵蜂的急性毒性及安全性评价

在实验室条件下，以草地贪夜蛾优势卵寄生蜂夜蛾黑卵蜂为研究对象，通过管测药膜法测定了农业农村部推荐草地贪夜蛾应急防控用药中的氯虫苯甲酰胺、氟苯虫酰胺、茚虫威、虱螨脲、四氯虫酰胺、虫螨腈、乙基多杀菌素和甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐等8种杀虫剂对夜蛾黑卵蜂的急性毒性，并评价了其安全性风险等级。结果表明，甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐、乙基多杀菌素和虫螨腈对夜蛾黑卵蜂的毒力最大，LR₅₀分别为4.39×10^-4 mg a.i./cm²（4.00×10^-4~4.77×10^-4）、4.96×10^-4 mg a.i./cm²（4.48×10^-4~5.47×10^-4）和9.81×10^-4 mg a.i./cm²（9.06×10^-4~1.07×10^-3），对夜蛾黑卵蜂的安全性风险等级均为中等风险性。其余五种杀虫剂氯虫苯甲酰胺、氟苯虫酰胺、四氯虫酰胺、虱螨脲、茚虫威对夜蛾黑卵蜂的安全性等级均为低风险性，可作为夜蛾黑卵蜂成虫自然种群高峰期和人工释放区的首选杀虫剂。     

3种药剂防治草地贪夜蛾试验初探

为进一步筛选出防治草地贪夜蛾的药剂,笔者开展60%甲氰·单甲脒WG 1500倍+害立平助剂1000倍、10%溴氰虫酰胺SE 750倍+奇功助剂3000倍、10%高效氯氟氰菊酯EW 214倍+迈润助剂600倍对草地贪夜蛾的防治效果评价试验。结果表明,药后3 d,60%甲氰·单甲脒WG 1500倍+害立平助剂1000倍、10%溴氰虫酰胺SE 750倍+奇功助剂3000倍、10%高效氯氟氰菊酯EW 214倍+迈润助剂600倍的防治效果分别为100%、100%、82.09%。药后14 d,10%溴氰虫酰胺SE 750倍+奇功助剂3000倍的防治效果最好,为92.62%。综合来看,10%溴氰虫酰胺SE750倍+奇功助剂3000倍组合防治草地贪夜蛾效果明显,具有良好的速效性和持效性。     

Dermestid beetles in ‘evolution Canyon’, lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, including new records for Israel

Fifteen species of dermestid beetles were recorded at ‘Evolution Canyon’ (EC), Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel. They represent ~35% of known Israeli dermestid species. The following three species were recorded for the first time in Israel:Trogoderma svriaca Dalla Torre, 1911;Ctesias svriaca Ganglbauer, 1904; andAnthrenus (s.str.) jordaniens Pic, 1934. Adults of 13 species were collected on the more solar radiated, warmer and climatically more fluctuating south-facing slope (SFS); ten species were collected on the opposite, north-facing slope (NFS), which was cooler and climatically more stable. The abundance of adult dermestid beetles was 1.9 times higher on the SFS than on the NFS (86 and 47, respectively). Species richness and abundance distribution at EC (three collecting stations on each slope and one at the valley bottom) were significantly negatively correlated with the plant cover that consisted of trees and bushes (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.007 and 0.039, respectively) and perennials (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.039 and 0.077, respectively), indicating that non-woody plants were preferred by adult dermestid beetles.     

Epidemiology of Toxigenic Fungi and their Associated Mycotoxins for Some Mediterranean Crops

Recent data on the epidemiology of the common mycotoxigenic species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium in infected or colonized plants, and in stored or processed plant products from the Mediterranean area are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the toxigenicity of the causal fungal species and the natural occurrence of well known mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, patulin, Alternaria-toxins and moniliformin), as well as some more recently described compounds (fusaproliferin, beauvericin) whose toxigenic potential is not yet well understood. Several Fusarium species reported from throughout the Mediterranean area are responsible of the formation of mycotoxins in infected plants and in plant products, including: Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. cerealis, F. avenaceum, F. sporotrichioides and F. poae, which produce deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenone, zearalenone, moniliformin, and T-2 toxin derivatives in wheat and other small grains affected by head blight or scab, and in maize affected by red ear rot. Moreover, strains of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. subglutinans, that form fumonisins, beauvericin, fusaproliferin, and moniliformin, are commonly associated with maize affected by ear rot. Fumonisins, were also associated with Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus and Fusarium endosepsis of figs, caused primarily by F. proliferatum. Toxigenic A. alternata strains and associated tenuazonic acid and alternariols were commonly found in black mould of tomato, black rot of olive and citrus, black point of small cereals, and black mould of several vegetables. Toxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and ochratoxin A were often found associated with black rot of grapes, whereas toxigenic strains of A. flavus and/or P. verrucosum, forming aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, respectively, were found in moulded plant products from small cereals, peanuts, figs, pea, oilseed rape, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pistachios, and almonds. Finally, toxigenic strains of P. expansum and patulin were frequently found in apple, pear and other fresh fruits affected by blue mould rot, as well as in derived juices and jams.     

A survey of the genera of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microgaster</Emphasis> latreille and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygroplitis</Emphasis> thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from China

The genera ofMicrogaster Latreille 1804 andHygroplitis Thomson 1895 from China are presented systematically in this paper. Thirty-two species ofMicrogaster and three species ofHygroplitis are known in China. Diagnosis, character variation, distribution and host of each species among the two genera are presented, including its host and distribution. Keys to the species ofMicrogaster andHygroplitis are given. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2006.     

Plant Viruses Transmitted by Whiteflies

One-hundred and fourteen virus species are transmitted by whiteflies (family Aleyrodidae). Bemisia tabaci transmits 111 of these species while Trialeurodes vaporariorum and T. abutilonia transmit three species each. B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum are present in the European–Mediterranean region, though the former is restricted in its distribution. Of the whitefly-transmitted virus species, 90% belong to the Begomovirus genus, 6% to the Crinivirus genus and the remaining 4% are in the Closterovirus, Ipomovirus or Carlavirus genera. Other named, whitefly-transmitted viruses that have not yet been ranked as species are also documented. The names, abbreviations and synonyms of the whitefly-transmitted viruses are presented in tabulated form together with details of their whitefly vectors, natural hosts and distribution. Entries are also annotated with references. Whitefly-transmitted viruses affecting plants in the European–Mediterranean region have been highlighted in the text.     

Broad bean mottle virus in Morocco; curculionid vectors,and natural occurrence in food legumes other than faba bean (Vicia faba)

Broad bean mottle virus (BBMV) was transmitted from infected to healthy faba-bean plants by the curculionid weevilsApion radiolus Kirby,Hypera variabilis Herbst,Pachytychius strumarius Gyll,Smicronyx cyaneus Gyll, andSitona lineatus L. The latter appeared to be an efficient vector: acquisition and inoculation occurred at the first bite, the rate of transmission was c. 41%, and virus retention lasted for at least seven days.S. lineatus transmitted the virus from faba bean to lentil and pea, but not to the three genotypes of chickpea tested. This is the first report on the generaHypera, Pachytychius, andSmicronyx as virus vectors, and onA. radiolus, H. variabilis, P. strumarius, andS. cyaneus as vectors of BBMV.Out of 351 samples of food legumes with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, 16, 11, 19, and 17% of the samples of chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean, respectively, were found infected when tested for BBMV in DAS-ELISA. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of BBMV in chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean. The virus should be regarded as a food-legume virus rather than a faba-bean virus solely, and is considered an actual threat to food legume improvement programmes.     

Characterization of potato potyvirus Y (PVY) isolates from seed potato batches. Situation of the NTN, Wilga and Z isolates

A collection of 38 PVY isolates from seed potato batches, originating from several Western European countries, was characterized by using current biological, serological and molecular tools differentiating PVY strains and groups. The correlation between the three kinds of tests was good but not absolute. No single serological or PCR method was able to discriminate among the five isolate groups found. Twenty-nine isolates belonged to the PVY^N strain and six to the PVY^O strain. No PVY^C was found. Two other isolates reacted serologically like PVY^O, but were unable to elicit a hypersensitive response from the Ny_tbr gene and probably represent the PVY^Z group. At the molecular level, these two isolates showed a combination of both PVY^O and PVY^N and could be recombinants of these strains. Another isolate reacted serologically like PVY^O, but induced vein necrosis in tobacco, like PVY^N-Wilga. Some PVY^N isolates caused tuber ring necrosis in glasshouse conditions. These might belong to the PVY^NTN group. The PVY^NTN, PVY^N-Wilga and PVY^Z groups probably represent pathotypes within strains PVY^N and PVY^O, respectively. The present study also confirms previous reports showing a high genetic variation at the 5 end within the PVYN strain.     

The autumn leafroller: Phenology,damage and parasitoids in a Dutch apple orchard

The phenology of the autumn leafroller,Syndemis musculana, a local pest of apple, was studied in order to forecast larval emergence. From 1983–1986, peak flight as determined with sexpheromone traps was always between 13–18 May. The duration of embryonic development was determined at various constant temperatures and used to estimate the periods of egg hatch in these four years. Each year, most eggs should have hatched in the second decade of June.Differences in attack rates between apple cultivars seem to be explained largely by the variation in picking time. Larvae are only half grown at the beginning of harvest (cv. James Grieve), and have gone into hibernation when the latest variety (cv. Golden Delicious) is picked. Moreover, the varieties Cox's Orange Pippin and Belle de Boskoop, picked about half time, are liable to receive additional damage by caterpillars brought with the picked fruits into storage.Various hymenopterous parasites were reared from caterpillars. As the only leafroller in the orchard which hibernates as mature larva,S. musculana may promote winter survival of some parasitoids, like the eulophidColpyclypeus florus.Samenvatting De fenologie van de herfstbladroller (Syndemis musculana Hübner), een incidentele plaag op appel, werd nader bepaald met het doel het uitkomen van de eieren te kunnen voorspellen. In 1983–1986 viel de piekvlucht, bepaald met behulp van feromoonvallen, steeds tussen 13 en 18 mei.De ontwikkelingsduur van de eieren bij verschillende constante temperaturen werd gebruikt om de periode van uitkomen te schatten. De meeste eieren zullen ieder jaar in de eerste helft van juni uitkomen.Geconstateerde verschillen in schade tussen appelrassen blijken goeddeels terug te voeren op verschillen in pluktijdstip. De rupsen van de herfstbladroller zijn pas half-was als de eerste appels eind augustus geplukt worden, terwijl tegen het einde van de oogst begin oktober de meeste al in winterslaap zijn. Met name tussentijdse rassen, als Cox's Orange Pippin and Schone van Boskoop, lopen extra schade op doordat grotere rupsen met de geplukte vruchten in de kist terecht komen.Uit de rupsen werden negen, al van andere boomgaardbladrollers bekende, sluipwespen gekweekt, Omdat deze bladrollersoort, als enige in de boomgaard, als volgroeide rups overwintert, lijkt zij bij uitstek geschikt als winterwaard.This study was carried out at the Experimental Orchard De Schuilenburg, Schuilenburg 3, 4041 BK Kesteren, the Netherlands, to which address correspondence should be addressed.     

Diagnostics,genetic diversity and pathogenic variation of ascochyta blight of cool season food and feed legumes

Molecular diagnostic techniques have been developed to differentiate the Ascochyta pathogens that infect cool season food and feed legumes, as well as to improve the sensitivity of detecting latent infection in plant tissues. A seed sampling technique was developed to detect a 1% level of infection by Ascochyta rabiei in commercial chickpea seed. The Ascochyta pathogens were shown to be genetically diverse in countries where the pathogen and host have coexisted for a long time. However, where the pathogen was recently introduced, such as A. rabiei to Australia, the level of diversity remained relatively low, even as the pathogen spread to all chickpea-growing areas. Pathogenic variability of A. rabiei and Ascochyta pinodes pathogens in chickpea and field pea respectively, appears to be quantitative, where measures of disease severity were based on aggressiveness (quantitative level of infection) rather than on true qualitative virulence. In contrast, qualitative differences in pathogenicity in lentil and faba bean genotypes indicated the existence of pathotypes of Ascochyta lentis and Ascochyta fabae. Therefore, reports of pathotype discrimination based on quantitative differences in pathogenicity in a set of specific genotypes is questionable for several of the ascochyta-legume pathosystems such as A. rabiei and A. pinodes. This is not surprising since host resistance to these pathogens has been reported to be mainly quantitative, making it difficult for the pathogen to overcome specific resistance genes and form pathotypes. For robust pathogenicity assessment, there needs to be consistency in selection of differential host genotypes, screening conditions and disease evaluation techniques for each of the Ascochyta sp. in legume-growing countries throughout the world. Nevertheless, knowledge of pathotype diversity and aggressiveness within populations is important in the selection of resistant genotypes.     

Characterization of Sclerotinia minor populations in Texas peanut fields

In the summer of 2004 an epidemic of sclerotinia blight of peanut, a disease caused by Sclerotinia minor, occurred in Texas in fields where the disease was never previously detected. The disease was observed on many plants within one of the fields (>3000 disease foci), although most foci were <1 m. It is hypothesized that these observations were inconsistent with the recent introduction of a monocyclic pathogen, even if disease developed under conducive environmental conditions. The pattern of disease is most suggestive of the presence of foliar (ascospore) infections, although air temperature was above the known limits for apothecia development if the pathogen had arrived in the field in 2004 peanut seed. To further examine this epidemic, 232 isolates were collected, across a variety of spatial scales spanning this field and other Texas peanut fields, and evaluated for aggressiveness, fungicide sensitivity and genotypic diversity. There was wide variation among isolates for the phenotypic characteristics measured, but there was no evidence that a genotypically unique, highly aggressive, and fungicide resistant isolate had been introduced or evolved. The predominant genotype, TX1, which contained 154 isolates, was found in every county and field population.     

Eyespot of Cereals Revisited: ITS phylogeny Reveals New Species Relationships

Four species so far classified in Pseudocercosporella or Ramulispora (hyphomycetes) are associated with eyespot disease symptoms of cereals. Two of these have been linked to teleomorphs that were described in Tapesia. Sequence data derived from the Internal Transcribed Spacer region (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2) of the rDNA operon showed, however, that the eyespot fungi associated with Tapesia are not congeneric with Ramulispora sorghi, the type of Ramulispora. The genus name Tapesia is now rejected in favour of the conserved name Mollisia, which appears to comprise heterogeneous fungi. Tapesia yallundae is not closely related to the type of Mollisia, M. cinerea, but clusters separately, being more closely allied to species with Cadophora anamorphs. A new holomorph genus, Oculimacula, is therefore proposed for teleomorphs of the eyespot fungi, while the anamorphs are accommodated in Helgardia gen. nov.